The biggest chokes in sports history
An epic collapse in sports, like what happened to pro golfer Dustin Johnson this past weekend, can be as compelling as it is heartbreaking.
Johnson entered the final round of the 2015 U.S. Open tied for first. On the 18th hole, he had an eagle putt for a chance to win, and ultimately three-putted for par. Johnson lost to Jordan Spieth by a single shot, in one of the biggest meltdowns in sports history.
Seconds from a Spurs championship
The Spurs were 28 seconds away from clinching the 2013 NBA Finals. Even league officials were setting up the championship presentation for San Antonio. Then the Heat hit two clutch 3-point shots to send the game into overtime. The Heat eventually escaped Game 6 with a victory before winning Game 7 to hoist the trophy.
Tony Romo's fumbled snap
Trailing 21-20, the Cowboys were a field goal away from advancing to the next round of the 2007 NFL playoffs. All Tony Romo had to do was catch the snap. He didn't and the Seahawks remarkably won the game.
Chris Webber calls a timeout
Chris Webber was the best player on the famous "Fab Five" squad from Michigan. In the 1993 national championship game, Michigan was trailing 73-71 when Chris Webber dribbled the ball up the court and called a timeout. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Michigan was out of timeouts. Webber remains infamous for the play to this day.
John Carney misses the extra point
Down 20-13, New Orleans pulled off a miraculous last-second lateral play known as the "River City Relay." Now down by one, all the Saints needed to do was make the extra point to send the game into overtime. John Carney missed the easy kick, eliminating the Saints from playoff contention in 2003.
Jean Van De Velde blows a 3-shot lead
Before Dustin Johnson's unfortunate mishap, there was Jean Van de Velde squandering a three-shot lead on the final hole in the 1999 Open Championship. Van de Velde triple-bogied the 18th to set up a three-way tie. Van de Velde went on to lose in the playoff to Paul Lawrie.
Scott Norwood misses wide right
With mere seconds remaining in Super Bowl XXV, Bills kicker Scott Norwood infamously missed the game-winning 47-yard field goal wide right. The Giants would go on to defeat the Bills.
Greg Norman blows six-stroke lead
Greg Norman led the 1996 Masters Tournament for the first three rounds. He took a six-stroke lead into the final 18 holes before blowing it. Norman shot a final-round 78, losing to Nick Faldo by five strokes.
Ball goes between Bill Buckner's legs
In 1986, the Red Sox were on the verge of ending the "Curse of the Bambino" by winning its first World Series since 1918. During Game 6, a routine ground ball took a funny hop and somehow got past Bill Buckner. The Mets would win the World Series in seven games.
The Yankees surrender a 3-game lead
A year after Aaron Boone hit a walk-off home run against the Red Sox to send the Yankees to the World Series, New York took a commanding 3-0 lead in the 2004 ALCS.
The Red Sox weren't ready to call it a season, though. The Yankees were the first team in MLB history to lose a series after being up 3-0.
Alabama gives away an epic Iron Bowl
With the 2013 Iron Bowl tied at 28, Alabama attempted a 57-yard field goal that was returned by Auburn's Chris Davis for a 100-yard touchdown with no time left.
One strike away from a World Series
In Game 6 of the 2011 World Series, the Rangers were one strike away from winning -- twice! David Freese of the Cardinals came up clutch to send the series to Game 7. The Cardinals would go on to win the series.
The Music City Miracle
With 16 seconds left, the Bills took a 16-15 lead, but the Titans had one more trick up its sleeve. Frank Wycheck tossed a lateral across the field to Kevin Dyson, who took it to the house 75 yards for one of the most shocking plays in NFL history.
The Steve Bartman incident
In Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, the Cubs held a commanding 3-0 lead over the Marlins until the Steve Bartman incident occurred. On a fly ball to left field, Moises Alou tried making a catch in the stands only for a fan (Bartman!) to interfere. Following the foul ball, the Marlins scored eight runs that inning, and eventually won the series.
Gary Anderson misses
During the 1998 NFL season, Gary Anderson didn't miss a single field goal or extra point... until the playoffs. Anderson's only miss of the season was against the Atlanta Falcons, which cost the Vikings the game.
The Patriots miss out on perfection
The 2007 New England Patriots were one Super Bowl win away from becoming the first team to ever go 19-0. The New York Giants made history and handed the Patriots its lone loss of the season.
A Giants collapse
The San Francisco Giants were on the verge of winning the 2002 World Series until collapsing in Game 6, when the Angels rallied for six runs in the seventh and eighth inning. The Angels would go on to win the series in seven games.
The Oilers blow it
The Houston Oilers took a dominating 35-3 lead over the Bills in a 1993 playoff game.
The Bills stormed back to tie it at 38 before Buffalo won 41-38 in overtime. It is the biggest collapse in NFL history.